Device for compressing a compressible fluid

ABSTRACT

A circularly symmeterical casing is deformable between a maximum flow section and a minimum flow section, making it possible to increase the pressure of the air passing through casing from a minimum pressure for the maximum flow section to a maximum pressure for the minimum flow section. The invention makes it possible to obtain a fluid jet of substantially constant range.

PRIOR ART

Numerous prior art air compressor devices are known. Most are complexand require high energy consumption.

In addition, in the context of regulating temperature in a room by meansof a flow of air, prior devices are generally based on the use of amixture of air flows at different temperatures for adjusting thetemperature to the desired temperature, at constant pressure.

Thus, for example, Document DE-A-36 44 590 describes, in particular withreference to FIGS. 12 to 14, an embodiment of apparatus forair-conditioning a room and comprising an induction air diffuser 55whose flow rate can be varied by a device 57 for closing its outletopening 21 in part. That apparatus achieves a flow rate variation butdoes so by using the same pressure as the intake pressure. It is thus aconventional system in which the outlet pressure is essentiallyidentical to the intake pressure, and, from complete opening to completeclosure, the outlet pressure of the air remains unchanged so that thelength of the air jet varies as a function of the value of the workingoutlet opening 21.

Document U.S. 2,959,359 relates to an adjustable flow rate nozzle thatoperates on the same principle, and is described in particular forspraying liquids.

Document U.S. 3,776,470 describes a nozzle device of variable flowsection for conveying various fluids that can contain solid particleswhich can be carried away by the flow of fluid. That device operates onthe same principle as in the preceding documents, without any upstreamobstruction device, since that would prevent the flow, specifically ofthe solid particles that can be carried away by the fluid.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

A main object of the present invention is to solve the new technicalproblem consisting in providing a solution that makes it possible tocompress a compressible fluid (preferably air) to a variable pressure ina manner that is particularly simple, and low cost, starting from anincident flow whose pressure is substantially constant.

Another main object of the invention is to solve the new technicalproblem consisting in providing a solution that makes it possible toform a fluid jet of substantially constant range, this flow of fluidadvantageously being air, thereby making it possible to provideapparatus for air-conditioning at least one room.

Another main object of the present invention is to solve the newtechnical problem consisting in providing a solution that makes itpossible to compress a compressible fluid (preferably air) with its flowrate being self-regulating or automatically compensated, therebyremoving the need for pipes, pumps, heat-exchanger batteries for coolingor heating, since it is then possible for all the necessary power to betransmitted directly to the fluid, thereby also making it possible toobtain comfort that is unparalleled in the context of air-conditioning.In addition, an object of the invention is to make it possible tocompress a compressible fluid (preferably air) that is flowing at a highspeed, thereby making it possible to implement variants of the inventionso that it can be used in all sectors of air-conditioning, ranging, forexample, from use in an offshore platform to use in the home, therebyopening up new market sectors, in particular by means of implementationcosts that are particularly low compared with the costs of the prior artproduct(s) on the market.

An object of the present invention is to solve these new technicalproblems in a manner that is simple, low-cost, reliable, and usable onan industrial scale and in the context of air-conditioning businesspremises or dwellings.

The present invention achieves all of these results simultaneously.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect, the present invention provides apparatus making itpossible to obtain a fluid jet that is preferably of constant range,said apparatus being characterized in that it comprises a confinementduct for confining said fluid, which duct is open at both of its ends,namely its upstream end and its downstream end, and is provided at itsdownstream end with at least one compressor device for compressing saidcompressible fluid, which device comprises a deformable casing that isdeformable between a maximum flow section and a minimum flow section,and, at its upstream end, said duct is provided with at least one memberorganized to adjust the head loss of the incoming fluid, thus making itpossible to increase the pressure of the air passing through the casingfrom a minimum pressure for the maximum flow section to a maximumpressure for the minimum flow section, thereby providing a pressure inthe fluid at the outlet of the apparatus that is variable starting froman incident flow of substantially constant pressure.

In other words, the invention makes it possible to transfer energy fromthe upstream portion to the downstream portion by means of the presenceof at least one member organized to adjust the head loss of the incomingflow. It can be understood that when the downstream flow section is atits maximum, the flow rate is at its maximum and the head loss is at itsmaximum, so that the pressure of the fluid output by the apparatus ofthe invention is at its minimum, i.e. very different from the pressureof the incoming flow, whereas when the flow section is almost closed,the outgoing flow rate is at its minimum, so that the head loss in thedevice for adjusting head loss tends towards zero, thereby transferringpressure from the head-loss device to the outlet of the apparatus, andthe outlet pressure is then at its maximum.

It is thus possible to construct apparatus which, for example, for a 50%reduction in flow rate, maintains a downstream flow rate that remainsunchanged (which is quite surprising and remarkable).

In another advantageous embodiment of the invention, said apparatus ischaracterized in that the device as a whole is an assembly in alignmenton an axis, i.e. the upstream head-loss member has its axis essentiallyaligned with the axis of the downstream compressor device, and alsopreferably with the axis of an optional confinement duct for confiningthe fluid, so that maximum energy recovery can be obtained with minimumturbulence in the apparatus and at the outlet thereof, therebyminimizing noise, the apparatus preferably being constructed with aninternal duct profile at an air-flow angle that is substantiallyperfect, and generally about 7°.

In a currently-preferred embodiment, the member for adjusting a saidhead loss comprises at least one cylinder subdivided into a multitude oftubes of predetermined diameter for passing said fluid, thereby makingit possible to obtain head loss that is predetermined, while making saiddevice more flexible for varying the downstream pressure.

In an advantageous variant embodiment, the apparatus is characterized inthat, upstream, it comprises a plurality of head-loss members that canbe plugged into one another, so as to increase the total length of thetubes, thus causing head loss to vary, thereby influencing the value ofthe pressure of the fluid at the outlet of the apparatus.

In another advantageous embodiment of the apparatus, at least onepartial-closure member is provided, advantageously upstream from saidmember for adjusting the head loss of the incoming fluid, whichpartial-closure member can be moved inactively, partially actively, orfully actively, by being moved towards or away from the member foradjusting head loss, so as to provide fine head-loss adjustment.

In an advantageous embodiment, the device is characterized in that saidcasing is circularly-symmetrical in shape, and its maximum flow sectionis a substantially cylindrical section. Advantageously, the minimum flowsection of the deformable casing is an essentially flattened section.

In another embodiment, the device is characterized in that it comprisesmeans for varying the section of said deformable casing.

In a variant embodiment, the means for varying the section of saidcasing are controlled by a control member outside the casing, whichmember does not interfere with the flow section of the deformablecasing.

Advantageously, said deformable casing comprises a diaphragm which, inthe non-deformed state, is essentially cylindrical in shape, and whichis made, for example, of rubber, of elastomer, of a thin metal or of afine blade, or of similar materials.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the means for varying thesection of said deformable casing comprise at least two flatteningelements disposed substantially diametrically opposite about the axis ofsymmetry of said circularly-symmetrical casing.

In an advantageous variant embodiment, each of said two elementscomprises a substantially plane blade mounted to rotate about a pinsubstantially perpendicular to the axis of symmetry of saidcircularly-symmetrical casing, said pin being disposed outside themaximum flow section of the casing.

In a particular variant embodiment, at their fluid outlet free ends, thetwo substantially plane blades comprise at least two wedge-formingelements of predetermined thicknesses and disposed diametricallyopposite about said circularly-symmetrical casing, so that, at the endof the stroke, they close the circularly-symmetrical casing in itscentral portion, while leaving two open zones offset from the axis ofsymmetry so as to obtain a fluid flow rate at a maximum pressure.

In another advantageous embodiment of the invention, said deformablecasing is of predetermined length which may, advantageously be abouttwice its diameter.

Naturally, said compressible fluid is generally a gas and advantageouslyair, which makes it possible to consider using said device in thecontext of apparatus making it possible to obtain a fluid jet ofsubstantially constant range, as well as in the context ofair-conditioning at least one room, as described below with reference tothe second aspect of the invention.

In a second aspect, the present invention also covers apparatus makingit possible to obtain a fluid jet that is preferably of substantiallyconstant range, said apparatus being characterized in that it comprisesa confinement duct for confining said fluid, which duct is open at bothof its ends, namely its upstream end and its downstream end, and isprovided at its downstream end with at least one compressor device asdefined above.

In another advantageous embodiment of the apparatus of the invention,said apparatus is characterized in that said confinement duct has aninside surface of diameter tapering from upstream to downstream, so asto increase the speed at which the fluid flows.

In a particularly-advantageous application of the invention, saidapparatus is organized for air-conditioning at least one room, and ischaracterized in that it further comprises an injection system forinjecting a fluid at a predetermined temperature for correcting thetemperature or the humidity of said room.

In a particularly advantageous variant embodiment, said injection systemis disposed in the vicinity of the downstream outlet of said fluid,preferably in a manner offset relative to the axis of saidcircularly-symmetrical casing. In a variant, the system may be disposedoutside said confinement pipe.

In another advantageous embodiment, the apparatus of the invention ischaracterized in that the injection system comprises an additional fluidinjection pipe for injecting additional fluid and whose diameter isapproximately in the range two to four times smaller than the diameterof said casing in the non-deformed state.

In another embodiment of the invention, said injection system isdisposed inside said confinement piping, in the vicinity of its upstreamend.

In another advantageous embodiment of the invention, said confinementpiping is itself disposed inside fluid feed ducting for feeding fluid tosaid room.

According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, theapparatus is characterized in that said confinement piping is disposedinside said ducting in the vicinity of a fluid intake inlet for takingin fluid from said room, said intake preferably being performed byexternal mechanical means, such as a fan.

In a currently-preferred embodiment, the apparatus is characterized inthat said fluid is constituted by air, and said at least one roombelongs to business premises or to a dwelling.

By means of the invention, it is possible to adjust the outlet pressureof the fluid (such as air) output by the compressor device, therebymaking it possible to obtain a fluid jet that is of substantiallyconstant range, without modifying the pressure of the incoming fluid,and thus to air-condition at least one room under ideal conditions thatare economical with energy, with a structure that is extremely simple,and much less costly than prior devices used for air-conditioning rooms.

Other objects, characteristics, and advantages of the invention appearclearly to the person skilled in the art from the following explanatorydescription made with reference to the accompanying figures which aregiven merely by way of illustration, and therefore do not limit thescope of the invention in any way. It should be noted that the figuresare integral parts of the invention and thus of the present description.In addition, any characteristic that turns out to be novel compared withany of the prior art is part of the invention in its most general terms,as can be well understood by the person skilled in the art.

In the Figures:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic longitudinal section view of a device of theinvention for compressing a compressible fluid such as air, which devicecomprises a downstream deformable casing and an upstream head-lossmember, and is incorporated in apparatus making it possible to obtain afluid jet of substantially constant range, the device as a whole beingan assembly in alignment on an axis;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view on a larger scale of the zone II of FIG. 1,showing the maximum flow section position in dashed lines on one sideonly, and the minimum flow section position in continuous lines on bothsides;

FIG. 3 is a downstream end view looking along arrow III of FIG. 2, withdashed lines showing the maximum flow section position and continuouslines showing the minimum flow section position;

FIG. 4 is also a downstream view looking along arrow III of FIG. 2, whenthe device is in the maximum flow section position;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to the FIG. 4 view, when the device is in anintermediate position;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to views in FIGS. 4 and 5, when the device isin the minimum flow section position;

FIGS. 7, 8, and 9 are diagrammatic views similar to the view in FIG. 1,for each position, respectively the maximum flow section position (FIG.7), the intermediate flow section position (FIG. 8), and the minimumflow section position (FIG. 9), which positions correspond respectivelyto the flow section positions of FIGS. 4, 5, and 6;

FIG. 9 shows a variant in which a member for closing off in part theactive section of the head-loss member is advantageously present; and

FIG. 10 is a graph of the upstream flow rate curve and of the downstreamflow rate curve respectively obtained by means of the compressor deviceof the present invention, it being possible to observe that, with theupstream flow rate being constant, the downstream flow rate can beadjusted over quite a wide range, which can also be well understood bythe person skilled in the art, and which can also be understood withreference to the following description of the figures.

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section view of a device, given overallreference 10, for compressing a compressible fluid 12, which device is,in this example, incorporated in apparatus represented by overallreference 100 and making it possible to obtain a fluid jet ofsubstantially constant range, by means of a variable outlet pressurebeing generated from an incident flow of substantially constantpressure, the pressure being varied by means of the presence of at leastone head-loss adjustment member 120 disposed upstream and described inmore detail below. Furthermore, it should be noted that, in the contextof the invention, the various devices or members of the apparatus 100are essentially in alignment on an axis.

The device 10 of the invention for compressing a compressible fluid 12is characterized in that it comprises a deformable casing 20 that iscircularly symmetrical in this example, and that is deformable between amaximum flow section (shown in FIG. 1, in part in dashed lines in FIG.2, in dashed lines in FIG. 3, and in continuous lines in FIG. 4), and aminimum flow section (shown in continuous lines in FIG. 2, FIG. 3, andFIG. 6).

The deformable casing 20 thus makes it possible to increase the pressureof the air passing through said casing from a minimum pressure for themaximum flow section to a maximum pressure for the minimum flow section,as can be well understood by the person skilled in the art.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the maximum flow section(shown in FIGS. 1, 4, and 7), of said deformable casing 20 is asubstantially cylindrical section, which is also clearly visible inthese figures.

In another embodiment of the invention, the maximum flow section of thecasing 20 has a substantially flattened section.

In another embodiment of the invention, the device 10 is characterizedin that it comprises means 30 for varying the section of said deformablecasing 20.

In an advantageous variant embodiment, the means 30 for varying thesection of the casing 20 are controlled by a control member 40 outsidethe casing 20, which member does not interfere with the flow section ofthe deformable casing 20.

The control member 40, visible at least in FIGS. 2 and 3, may, forexample, comprise a cam 42, e.g. an elliptical cam defining a majordiameter D and a minor diameter d and clearly visible in FIG. 2. The camis mounted to rotate on an axle 44 disposed essentially perpendicularlyto the plane defined by the elliptical cam 42, and is controlled byconventional rotary control means which are well known to the personskilled in the art, and which are thus not shown here, to make thefigures easier to understand.

In another advantageous variant embodiment of the invention, the device10 is characterized in that said deformable casing 20 comprises adiaphragm 22 which, in the non-deformed state (shown in FIGS. 1, 4, 7,and 8) has an essentially cylindrical shape, and which is made ofrubber, elastomer or similar materials, for example.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the means 30for varying the section of said deformable casing 20 comprise at leasttwo flattening elements, respectively 32 and 34, clearly visible in thefigures, and disposed substantially diametrically opposite about theaxis X—X of symmetry (in particular shown in FIG. 2) of saidcircularly-symmetrical casing 20.

In a currently-preferred variant embodiment, each of the two elements32, 34 comprises, in this embodiment, a substantially plane blademounted to rotate about a pin 36, 38 (shown clearly in FIG. 2)substantially perpendicular to the axis of symmetry X—X of thecircularly-symmetrical casing 20.

Advantageously, at their free ends for fluid outlet, the substantiallyplane blades comprise at least two wedge-forming elements 50, 52 ofpredetermined thickness and disposed diametrically opposite about saidcircularly-symmetrical casing 20, so that, at the end of the stroke,they close the circularly-symmetrical casing 20 in its central portion,as shown in continuous lines in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, without leaving anygap over the distance defined by the wedge-forming elements 50, 52, asclearly visible in FIG. 3, but while leaving two open zones respectivelyreferenced Z1 and Z2 in FIG. 3, offset from the axis of symmetry X—X soas to obtain a fluid flow rate at a maximum pressure. Naturally, thewedge-forming elements 50, 52 are not essential, and they may be removedif it is desired to obtain complete closure of the outlet opening, ascan be advantageous in certain air-conditioning systems when a givenroom is to be isolated.

In another embodiment of the invention, said circularly-symmetricalcasing 20 is of predetermined length which may advantageously be abouttwice its diameter.

It is also possible to provide an optional and deformable reinforcementelement 54 (shown in particular in FIGS. 4 to 6) such as a metal gridaround the circularly-symmetrical casing 20, thereby making it possibleto limit the expansion of the circularly-symmetrical casing 20,constituted in practice by the diaphragm 22, when the fluid 12 passesunder pressure inside said diaphragm.

Naturally, the means 30 for varying the section of the casing 20 (inthis example, preferably comprising flattening elements 32, 34 in theform of substantially plane blades) are applied against the surface ofthe control member 40 (in this example, in the form of a wheel 42) bythrust means 60 on one side, such as springs 62, or some otherequivalent means.

It can thus be understood that, with the invention, it is very easy tomodify to the flow section of the deformable casing 20, merely byrotating the control member 40 by acting on the axle 44, as is alsoclearly visible by comparing FIGS. 8 and 9, respectively showing themaximum flow section and the minimum flow section.

In the context of the application of this fluid compressor device toapparatus 100 having a fluid jet that is preferably of constant range,said apparatus is characterized in the invention in that it comprises aconfinement duct 110 in which said fluid 12 is confined, which is openat both of its ends, namely its upstream end 112 and its downstream end114, and which is provided at its downstream end 114 with at least onedevice 10 of the present invention as described above.

In an advantageous embodiment, the apparatus 100 of the invention ischaracterized in that, at its upstream end 112, it comprises at leastone member 120 organized to adjust the head loss of the incoming fluid.

In a currently-preferred embodiment, the member 120 for generating andadjusting a head loss comprises at least one cylinder, such as 122, 124,126 (shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1, and shown more precisely in FIGS.8 and 9), subdivided into a multitude of tubes, such as 130 (clearlyvisible in FIGS. 8 and 9), of predetermined diameter for passing saidfluid, thereby making it possible to obtain head loss that ispredetermined, while making said device 10 more flexible in use andincreasing the amount whereby the downstream pressure can be varied.

Advantageously, the apparatus 100 of the invention is characterized inthat, upstream, it comprises a plurality of, e.g. three, head-lossmembers, referenced 122, 124, and 126, that can be plugged into oneanother, as can be well understood by the person skilled in the art, soas to increase the total length of the tubes 130, thus varying the headloss, thereby influencing the value of the pressure of the fluid at theoutlet of the apparatus 100, for a substantially constant pressure inthe incident flow entering the apparatus.

In another advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least over aportion, said confinement duct 110 has an inside surface 140 of diametertapering from upstream to downstream, so as to increase the speed atwhich the fluid flows.

FIG. 9 shows a possible modification of the head loss member 120, whichmodification is particularly advantageous in the context of largeinstallations, in which it is desired to obtain accurate adjustment ofhead loss, which adjustment may be by way of an alternative to theadjustment obtained by varying the number of said disks 122, 124, 126,and may consist in providing at least one closure member 132 for closingoff in part the active section of the head-loss member 120, whichclosure member is disposed upstream in this example, but may also bedisposed downstream. The closure member 132 is advantageously disposedupstream so that adjustment is made easier, and it is mounted to bemovable in translation substantially along the axis of symmetry(referenced X—X in FIG. 9) of the apparatus 100, e.g. by being securedto a threaded rod 133 co-operating with a nut-forming element 134 whoseposition is fixed. The partial-closure member 132 may have a maximumspan or diameter D capable of closing off as much as about 50% of theintake area of the section S of the intake duct 102 for the flow, e.g.of air. It may be advantageous to streamline the upstream portion of thepartial-closure member 132, e.g. as shown by imparting a frustoconicalshape to it so as to create the least possible turbulence in theincoming upstream flow. It can be understood that when the member 132 isturned on the screw 133, the partial-closure member 132 is moved furthertowards or away from the first head-loss member 122, thereby making theclosure member increasingly active or increasingly inactive as afunction of the distance that separates it from the surface of the firsthead-loss member 122. In the limit, when the closure member 132 comes upagainst the surface of the first head-loss member 122, it closes offcompletely the orifices 130 disposed within its span. By means of thisadjustment, it is possible to cause the flow rate to vary by 50%, andthus to adjust the head loss by a value in the range 1 to 4, as can bewell understood by the person skilled in the art.

In the context of the apparatus of the invention 100 being used forair-conditioning at least one room, said apparatus is characterized inthat it further comprises an injection system 150 for injecting a fluid152 at a predetermined temperature for correcting the temperature or thehumidity of said room, which system is preferably disposed outside theconfinement pipe 110.

In an advantageous variant embodiment, said injection system 150 isdisposed in the vicinity of the downstream outlet of said fluid 12, asshown in FIG. 1, preferably in a manner offset relative to the axis X—Xof the circularly-symmetrical casing 20, as shown in FIG. 1.

In a currently-preferred embodiment, the injection system 150 comprisesan additional fluid injection pipe 154 for injecting additional fluid152 and whose diameter is approximately in the range two to four timessmaller than the diameter of said circularly-symmetrical casing 20 inthe non-deformed state which is shown in particular in FIGS. 4, 7, and8.

In another embodiment, which may be advantageous in certain cases,injection system 154A may be disposed inside the confinement piping 110,in the vicinity of its upstream end.

In another advantageous embodiment of the apparatus of the invention100, said confinement piping 110 may itself be disposed inside fluidfeed ducting 160 for feeding fluid to said room.

Advantageously, the confinement piping 110 may be disposed inside saidducting 160 in the vicinity of a fluid intake inlet 162 for taking influid 12 a from said room via suitable intake ducting 164, said intakepreferably being performed by external mechanical means 166, such as afan.

It can thus be understood that said fluid is preferably constituted byair, and said at least one room is located in business premises or in adwelling.

Thus, by means of the invention it is possible to create a jet of fluid(preferably air) of substantially constant effectiveness for adjustingthe heating or cooling power for heating or cooling a room, merely bymodifying the air flow rate by modifying the downstream flow section fora fluid taken in at a substantially constant pressure upstream.

For example, it is known that, in order to adjust the temperature of aroom in summer, it is customary to cause the flow rates of cold air tovary from 100% to 25%, and beyond this value, comfort becomes chancysince the low-speed cold air falls onto people, thereby generatingdrafts that are unpleasant for the user, even with quality bloweroutlets or with traditional induction systems.

In winter, the heating power is no longer adjusted by reducing the airflow rate. The flow rate is set to a stable value, and a thermostatadjusts a hot water flow rate or the power of an electrical battery ofheat exchangers.

The invention makes it possible to cut heating or cooling power from100% to 25% while reducing the downstream flow rate only slightly or bynot more than about 25%.

In addition, the high induction ratios obtained make it possible togenerate no cold or hot air drafts at low upstream flow rates becausethe air is blown out at a temperature in the vicinity of the temperatureof the room, while achieving an improvement in the air trajectory whichis situated outside the zone occupied by people, this trajectory beingsubstantially horizontal, regardless of any change in flow rate obtainedby increasing the pressure.

By means of the invention, the graph of upstream air flow rate and ofdownstream air flow rate as shown in FIG. 10 is obtained for theincoming fluid being at a pressure of 290 pascals. It can be observedthat, if the upstream flow rate is varied from 100 m³ per hour to 10 m³per hour, the downstream flow rate makes it possible to obtain a totalflow rate that is still greater than 100 m³ per hour, by reducing theoutlet flow section of the fluid 12 delivered by the compressor device10 of the invention, thereby making it possible to increase theinduction ratio, under the influence of three factors, namely: firstlythe rise in pressure and in speed at the outlet head, as the flow ratedecreases, until the pressure of the fluid in the outlet has almostdoubled; secondly the reduction in the volume of the jet of air 12compressed inside the ducting 160, which reduction in volume releases anincreasing amount of space for the induced air; and thirdly the factthat the contact perimeter of the induced air jet is maintained due tothe fact that said deformable circularly-symmetrical casing 20 isflattened.

If it is desired to maintain the downstream flow rate of the apparatusfor an upstream flow rate reduction of about 50%, the upstream head lossof the unit 120 is initially set to a maximum value so that, on reducingthe upstream flow rate by 50%, the head-loss reduction corresponding tothe flow-rate reduction of about 50% is to be found downstream, so thatthe pressure of the delivered flow is increased by a pressure valuecorresponding substantially to three-fourths of the head-loss differenceobtained. For example, for an initial head loss in the upstream unit of200 Pa and an outlet flow pressure value of about 200 Pa, if the flowrate is reduced by 50%, the upstream head loss becomes 50 Pa, and theheadloss difference of 150 Pa is to be found substantially downstream atthe diaphragm, so that the outlet pressure is maintained at about 350Pa. In contrast, the incoming pressure of the flow remains unchanged at400 Pa. It can thus be observed that, with the apparatus of theinvention, and on the basis of an incident flow at substantiallyconstant pressure, a variable pressure is obtained for the outgoing airflow.

As a result, it is possible to construct apparatus which, for a 50%reduction in flow rate, maintains an initial downstream flow rate thatis unchanged.

The invention thus makes it possible to obtain a very comfortable airflow temperature because it can be very close to ambient temperature.

An example is given below.

Upstream air pressure:

upstream air flow temperature: 8° C.;

room temperature: 25° C.;

mixture temperature: 21.7° C.;

induction ratio: at least 5.14;

temperature difference relative to ambient: 3.3° C.;

upstream air flow rate: 36 m³ per hour; and

downstream air flow rate through the maximum flow section: about 185 m³per hour.

With a pressure reduction of about 80%, the downstream flow rate isequal to 140 m³ per hour and the induction ratio goes to 7.7 for theminimum flow section of the circularly-symmetrical casing 20, whereasthe flow section was previously at its maximum.

The temperature of the resulting mixture is expressed mathematically asfollows:$\frac{\left( {18\quad {m^{3}/h} \times 8{^\circ}\quad {C.}} \right) + \left( {6.7 \times 18\quad {m^{3}/h} \times 25{^\circ}\quad {C.}} \right)}{7.7 \times 18\quad {m^{3}/h}} = {22.8{^\circ}\quad {C.}}$

The temperature difference relative to ambient is 2.2° C., thusprocuring a very good level of comfort.

Thus, the transfer device of the invention maintains an air range thatis substantially constant, thereby making it possible for the air flowrate to be self-regulating or to be compensated automatically, so thatthere is no longer any need for pipes, pumps or heat-exchanger batteriesfor cooling or heating since all the necessary power can then betransmitted directly to the air or any equivalent fluid, so as to obtaincomfort that is unparalleled.

It can be understood that the invention makes it possible to obtaindecisive technical advantages that are mentioned above. The inventioncomprises all means constituting technical equivalents as well as theirvarious combinations.

What is claimed is:
 1. Apparatus for delivering a fluid jet ofsubstantially constant range, comprising: a) a confinement duct forconfining a compressible fluid, which duct is open at both its upstreamend and downstream end; b) at its downstream end, at least onecompressor device for compressing said fluid, which compressor devicecomprises a deformable casing that is deformable between a maximum flowsection and a minimum flow section; and c) at its upstream end, saidconfinement duct comprises at least one head loss member constructed toadjust the head loss of the incoming fluid, thus increasing the pressureof the fluid passing through the casing from a minimum pressure for amaximum flow section to a maximum pressure for a minimum flow section,by modifying value of the pressure of the fluid at the outlet of theapparatus, and thereby providing a pressure in the fluid at the outletof the apparatus that is variable starting from an incident flow ofsubstantially constant pressure.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe head loss member comprises at least one cylinder subdivided into amultitude of tubes of predetermined diameter for passing said fluid,thereby making it possible to obtain head loss that is predetermined,while making said device more flexible for varying the pressure at theoutlet.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising a plurality of saidhead-loss members that can be plugged into one another, so as toincrease the total length of the tubes, thus causing head loss to vary,thereby influencing the value of the pressure of the fluid at the outletof the apparatus.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least onepartial-closure member is provided, upstream from said head loss memberfor adjusting the head loss of the incoming fluid, which partial-closuremember can be moved between a position selected from the groupconsisting of an inactive position, a partially active position, a fullyactive position by being moved towards or away from the member foradjusting head loss, so as to provide fine head-loss adjustment.
 5. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein said confinement duct has over at least aportion thereof, an inside surface of diameter tapering from upstream todownstream, so as to increase the speed at which the fluid flows.
 6. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein said casing is circularly-symmetrical inshape, and its maximum flow section is a substantially cylindricalsection and its minimum flow section advantageously has an essentiallyflattened section.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising meansfor varying the section of said deformable casing.
 8. The apparatus ofclaim 7, wherein the means for varying the section of said casing arecontrolled by a control member outside the casing, which control memberdoes not interfere with the flow section of the deformable casing. 9.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said deformable casing comprises adiaphragm which, in the non-deformed state has an essentiallycylindrical shape, and which is made of a material selected from thegroup consisting of a rubber, an elastomer, a thin metal and a thinblade.
 10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said casing is circularlysymmetrical in shape and the means for varying the section of saiddeformable casing comprise at least two flattening elements disposedsubstantially diametrically opposite about the axis of symmetry of saidcircularly-symmetrical casing.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10, whereineach of said two elements comprises a substantially plane blade mountedto rotate about a pin substantially perpendicular to the axis ofsymmetry of said circularly-symmetrical casing.
 12. The apparatus ofclaim 11, wherein the two substantially plane blades have free endsremote from said pin, said fee ends comprising at least twowedge-forming elements of predetermined thickness and being disposeddiametrically opposite about said circularly-symmetrical casing, sothat, when said casing is deformed at said minimum flow setting, saidelements close the circularly-symmetrical casing in its central portion,while leaving two open zones offset from the axis of symmetry so as toobtain a fluid flow rate at a maximum pressure.
 13. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein said deformable casing is of predetermined length whichmay be about twice its diameter.
 14. Apparatus for air-conditioning atleast one room, comprising at least one apparatus according to claim 1,and further an injection system for injecting a fluid at a predeterminedtemperature for correcting the temperature or the humidity of said room.15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said injection system is disposedoutside said confinement duct.
 16. The apparatus of claim 14, whereinsaid deformable casing is circularly-symmetrical in shape and saidinjection system is disposed in the vicinity of the downstream outlet ofsaid fluid, in a manner offset relative to the axis of saidcircularly-symmetrical casing.
 17. The apparatus of claim 14, whereinthe injection system comprises an additional fluid injection pipe forinjecting additional fluid and whose diameter is approximately in therange two to four times smaller than the diameter of said deformablecasing in the non-deformed state.
 18. The apparatus of claim 14, whereinsaid injection system is disposed inside the confinement duct in thevicinity of its upstream end.
 19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein theconfinement duct is itself disposed inside a fluid feed ducting forfeeding fluid to said room.
 20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein theconfinement duct is disposed inside said ducting in the vicinity of afluid intake inlet for taking in fluid from said room, said intake beingperformed by external fluid feeding mechanical means.
 21. The apparatusof claim 14, wherein said fluid is constituted by air, and said at leastone room belongs to business premises or to a dwelling.